NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!

[kiwiana 2]

yankiwi: I'm with you on the clothes shopping in the US. Definitely much more variety there and cheaper too. Another thing that i miss about the US (apart from my SO of course ) is CD shopping. Just great prices and variety!!

Grant and Kelzm: Thanks so much for the parking information in the city. I have started to jot these answers down on A4 writing pad, that i have divided into catergories: medical, interview, aos etc. so that as i find out about stuff, i write it down and will then have it at the ready. There is so much to take in (both locally for the interview and in general with the K-1) and sometimes no matter how many times I read over the faqs or guides here at vj, there is still a lot of things that goes right over my head.

One such instance is the vaccination record. Thanks Kim, for putting me in the picture with that. For some reason, i had the idea that the record was put in the secret envelope to give to the person at POE, when infact, I, the beneficiary hold onto it myself?

Best wishes to Russell with the interview. Look forward to his review! not long until you are together!!

Grant: The boxes seem a pretty decent size. It's good that you have a complete project plan for the move. Not long to go now!

Kelzm: Have a safe journey home!!!

[kiwiana 2]

cdneh.. I know where those clothes came from! I seem to have the same sickness... and don't even get me started on shoes!

10 days, 13 hours!!!

Oooo..that's the Shoe Fairy! (second cousin to the shoemakers elves)

10 days!!! OMG!!!

[kiwiana 2]

We were in town way early, so parked in the open air parking lot right across from the train station, you can see the building the Consulate is in from there. It cost $3 per 1/2 hour, with a maximum of $15 for 12 hours. We paid $15 since we opted to pay the whole day fee so we wouldn't have to worry about the meter going over, it was so worth it IMO!

thanks for the information! I will write it all down

[cdneh 3,112]

cdneh.. I know where those clothes came from! I seem to have the same sickness... and don't even get me started on shoes!

10 days, 13 hours!!!

Oooo..that's the Shoe Fairy! (second cousin to the shoemakers elves)

10 days!!! OMG!!!

lol..and alas I know her well

[KimandRuss 0]

shoe fairy! Yes, we'll blame her! I have yet to find a place for Russell's clothes. I know we had room for them all last year... it must have shrunk!

Ana, try not to worry too much about not understanding every part of this process. It's confusing to say the least. When you receive your visa you will also get a 'mysterious' sealed envelope that you are NOT to open! This includes your medical information and is to be handed to the POE officer. You will also want to ask the panel physician for a signed vaccination form at your medical to send with your I693 at adjustment time.

9 days - 13.25 hours!

[LandS 0]

Hi everyone,

I had a virus on my computer and could not log onto VJ. My God, I missed a lot.

Kim: I am so sorry your process was delayed again. I know how it feels! I am glad it's finally all moving and a hope it all goes smoothly tomorrow for Russ. I just had mine last week and it was a breeze. So tell him not to worry too much although I know it's hard not to. I was so anxious and excited the night before, I was only able to get 3 hours sleep. But it was ok as my adrenaline was running high!!!

I stayed with a friend who lives in town, and parked on the corner of Beach St and Te Taou Crescent. It was $7 for the whole day (they only accept cash), and a 10 minute walk to the consulate. The parking lot that Kim mentioned is very close to the embassy and there is also the foodtown parking lot that is a couple of blocks away but I'm not sure how much it is. There's a post shop right underneath and a coffee shop in case any of you get there too early. Make sure you take a large courier envelope with you (I almost forgot about the sealed envelope that had to come with the passport).

I was the only one there for my interview at 9 am. It was only after 9.10am or so that other people started arriving for non-immigrant visas, so I still had the window all to myself. I rang the bell but the lady did not hear it, so I waited a few minutes until she saw me sitting there. She gave me some things back that she no longer needed, and just got my birth certificate and the affidavit of support. She also gave me a stamped copy of my vaccination records to present for AOS if they ask for it. She told me it would take ~20 minutes for the immigration officer to call me. The immigration officer was really nice, and just went through the paperwork with me. The only question she asked was how we kept in touch, and asked if I had any photos of the two of us (the consular lady had given it back to me). The rest felt a lot more like a conversation than an interview! At the end she told me that they would process it the next day (Friday) and would send it on Monday. And I just got it this morning!!!! :dance: :dance: :dance:

So now, I am finishing my packing. It really is hard packing it all into 3 suitcases!!! But I'm almost there... flying out on Friday!!!!

Grant: Good luck with the packing!

Kiwiana: Make sure your vaccinations are up to date (you can check with your doctor), and when they send you package 3, make sure you have the vaccination form (it was missing from mine so I downloaded it from the net). The doctor/nurse will go through it and see which ones you need and which ones you don't. I took my vaccination record so it made things a lot easier. I had Shawn's birth certificate with me, but they didn't ask for it.

Bobsagetti: Hope you get that EAD soon!

Kelzm: Hope you had a safe journey!

And for all waiting for their NOA2s: I hope those timelines start speeding up! I'll let you know how the POE went!

[KimandRuss 0]

Interveiw in 7 hours!!!

I'm more anxious and excited than nervous. So is Russell.

Send us your good vibes!

[kelzm 0]

I'm home.

Lots of good vibes being sent out to Russ, I'm confident that he's going to breeze through the interview.

[cdneh 3,112]

Interveiw in 7 hours!!!

I'm more anxious and excited than nervous. So is Russell.

Send us your good vibes!

three hours now by my clock...and I am sending you my best vibes !!

[gshennen 0]

Cool - I know Russ will have no problems at all. Your knowledge and experience of the whole process, along with being well organised will mean he will blitz it.

Not long for you guys now.

Cheers

Grant

[KimandRuss 0]

Thank you friends. Just 40 minutes now. I'm going to the pub! Will let you know in a bit.

Welcome home Kel!!

[KimandRuss 0]

Approved!

He's still on his way home from Auckland so I haven't really talked to him yet. He text me to let me know it was all good and that his visa will be delivered by Monday. I can hardly belive we are finally here!

I'm sure he'll come tell you all about it.

[gshennen 0]

Awesome - very well done.

Its a great feeling isn't it!!

Cheers

Grant

[yankiwi 0]

Kim and Russ- YAY!!! So glad that is all sorted out now! Soon you'll be in each others arms, it's so exciting!

Kelzm- Glad you made it home, bet you're glad all that travel is over!

ShawnandLu- You must have had the same Consulate Officer we did, she was so friendly! Have fun packing and a safe trip home!

Kiwiana- Yes! CDs in the States are SO much cheaper, and books! Before moving here I would order my books used through Amazon (I think of it as shopping and recycling at the same time... ) , so I'm looking forward to being able to go back to that. I recently picked up a photography book I needed here in a local shop--almost $40 for a book I could have found for less than $10 used! *shakes head*

[Michelle Kauffman 0]

That's awesome news Kim, i'm so happy for the two of you